Why Raikou From Jupiter's Legacy Looks So Familiar
Audiences just can't seem to get enough of superhero properties, and movie studios and streaming services are more than happy to oblige. It's getting to the point where places have to extend beyond many of the recognizable names from Marvel and DC, exposing audiences to heroes they may not have heard of previously. As for Netflix, it's diving headfirst into the Millarworld from Image Comics with the debut of its newest action series, "Jupiter's Legacy."
The show promises to take the conventional superhero story into an intergenerational direction when the world's first superheroes came into existence back in the 1930s, but in modern times, their kids have to live up to the exceptional legacy they put forth. You may think you've seen every hero archetype around, but be prepared to think again. An eclectic mix of heroes (and anti-heroes) are about to light up your screen, including the dual-sword-wielding assassin Raikou, who's played by YouTube personality Anna Akana. She may still upload wellness videos about tips on staying happy, but she's developed quite the resume for herself across a litany of projects (via IMDb). Even if you don't watch a lot of YouTube, you've probably seen her elsewhere.
Anna Akana had a brief but hilarious role in Ant-Man
Anna Akana has written, directed, and starred in numerous online shorts, but she finally got to move into blockbuster territory on the big screen with a small role in "Ant-Man." You may not immediately recognize what part she played, but allow us to draw your attention to one of the funniest gags in the movie involving Luis (Michael Peña) telling a story about how he learned the Avengers are interested in Scott Lang (Paul Rudd). It moves fast, but basically, one of Luis' friends had a date with a writer who was "super-fine" and had Falcon as one of her sources. That writer chick? She's played by Anna Akana.
Her role's easy to miss, especially because this also happens to be the sequence where we get Stan Lee's humorous cameo, but she does get a chance to act alongside Anthony Mackie's Falcon. She may just be lip-syncing, but she made it look good.
She brought levity to office life in Comedy Central's Corporate
"The Office" may have poked fun at the monotony of working at a place where you're never entirely sure what it is you're doing, but "Corporate" on Comedy Central took that premise to a new existentially terrifying level. The show, which lasted for three seasons, primarily follows two depressed employees — Matt (Matt Ingebretson) and Jake (Jake Weisman) — who attempt to climb the corporate ladder at Hampton DeVille, a company that pretty much manufactures everything under the sun.
During their many excursions to try to find some meaning in their work, they have a cavalcade of coworkers to join in their misery, including Paige (Akana). She has several memorable moments throughout the series, such as discussing the intricacies of a movie no one has actually even seen. If you happen to work for a multinational conglomerate, then perhaps the series will hit a little too close to home, and even though "Corporate" has ended, it's still worth revisiting.
She's recently pulled at viewers' heartstrings on A Million Little Things
Content warning: Mentions of suicide
While "A Million Little Things" on ABC certainly has moments of levity, it's not afraid to deal with serious topics. After all, the show's plot kicks off when a friend group loses one of their loved ones to suicide, and it causes them to question how exactly they're living their own lives. The death has been particularly tough on musician Eddie (David Giuntoli), who in recent seasons has returned to using drugs after being sober for so long. Sadly, it's one of his fellow musician friends, Dakota (Akana), who starts supplying him with the illicit substances.
The role's immensely personal to Akana, and that's not even considering the fact she's a musician in real life. Akana's sister died by suicide, and a big reason she was able to heal afterward was thanks to comedy, which she decided to pursue herself (via Insider). She even used her YouTube profile to raise awareness and to help others who might have suicidal thoughts. From her career choices so far, it's clear Akana isn't just making people laugh; she's changing the world.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).